Job profile

Are you passionate about building partnerships that shape the future workforce? The Manchester College is seeking an ambitious Employability & Skills Lead to support the growth and success of the Digital Technical Excellence College (DigiTEC). This is a unique opportunity to work at the intersection of education, industry and regional skills development, building influential relationships with employers, stakeholders and education providers across Greater Manchester, Liverpool City Region, West Yorkshire and South Yorkshire. You'll play a pivotal role in ensuring employer insight informs curriculum innovation, strengthening collaboration across the DigiTEC network and helping develop the digital and technical talent needed to meet future workforce demands.

Working closely with employers, regional stakeholders, delivery partners and internal teams, you will lead strategic engagement activity, gather and translate labour market intelligence into actionable insights, and ensure DigiTEC remains responsive to emerging skills needs. You will act as a key ambassador for DigiTEC, driving employer collaboration, supporting curriculum development, promoting best practice, and enhancing the college's reputation as a leading centre for digital and technical skills excellence.

This is an exciting opportunity for a proactive and relationship-focused professional with experience in employer engagement, stakeholder management, skills development or partnership working. If you thrive on building meaningful collaborations, influencing change and creating opportunities that improve learner outcomes and regional economic growth, we'd love to hear from you.

This opportunity is based at our City Campus Manchester to join the DigiTEC Department as an Employability and Skills Lead. This is a 3-year fixed term role on a full-time, (35 hours per week) basis.

Benefits

We offer an outstanding benefits package to support your work-life balance, career development, and well-being, including.

• 35 days of annual leave, including 5 days holiday.
• Free breakfast every day to start your morning right*!
• Opportunity to work from home when you're not required to be on-site.
• In-house training programme to help you upskill and advance your career.
• 3 well-being days per year.
• Significant pension contribution.
• Retail discounts.
• Employee Assistance Program.
• Cycle to work scheme.

Why The Manchester College?

The Manchester College is the Largest Further Education College in the United Kingdom and has the largest provisions for 16-19yrs olds, adults, and higher education in Greater Manchester. We are part of the LTE group that consist of MOL, Total People, UCEN Manchester, Novus, and LTE Group Operations. We currently support more than 25% of Greater Manchester’s learning provision and are currently rated “Good” by Ofsted. The Manchester Colleges offering is bolstered by 18 Centres of Excellence across our campuses, ensuring we give our best and strive to achieve an unrivalled learning experience for our students. We have partnerships with over 1000 industry and employer partners nationally to ensure our students secure their place as the leaders of the future.

Proudly, The Manchester College is also 1 of only 57 organisations nationally recognised with the Princess Royal Training Award 2025, demonstrating our commitment to investing in our people and their development.

Role Responsibilities

• Work across the College to motivate and engage students in meaningful work-related learning activities, including work placements.
• Fully embed and deliver the work experience and employer engagement strategy, increasing opportunities for learners and strengthening employer partnerships.
• Develop and maintain effective relationships with employers, teaching staff, assessors and support teams to ensure successful learner outcomes.
• Prepare, coach and support learners before, during and after placements, helping them achieve their goals and maximise their employability.
• Visit learners in the workplace to monitor progress, attendance, attitude, health and safety compliance, and overall placement quality.
• Record, monitor and evaluate learner participation, employer feedback, progress and achievement, ensuring accurate reporting and continuous improvement.

Full role profile is available when you click Apply.

Essential Skills, Qualifications and Experience

• At least a GSCE or level 2 in literacy and numeracy (or equivalent).
• Experience of employer engagement, involving but not limited to networking, cold calling, negotiating and relationship management skills.
• Experience of developing external relationships with employers and other agencies.
• Experience of working to targets, implementing monitoring and recording systems.
• Liaison and Networking - Experience of circulating information in an accurate and timely manner, working across team boundaries to build and strengthen working relationships.
• The ability to organise and to be self-motivated.
• The ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing and to be fully competent in the use of Microsoft Office programs.

Safeguarding

The LTE Group is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. All applicants will be required to undergo an appropriate DBS check via the Criminal Records Bureau and may be subject to additional online checks as part of our pre-screening process. Some roles are exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and would require an Enhanced DBS check.

Equal Opportunities Statement

At The Manchester College, we’re committed to providing an environment free from discrimination, bullying, harassment, or victimisation, where all members of our community are treated with respect and dignity. The Manchester College is committed to working in an inclusive way with all the communities where we are geographically located and to developing a workforce and student community that reflects Greater Manchester’s and the UK’s rich diversity and vibrancy.

The closing date for this job advert is 17/09/2026. However, sometimes the job advert may close early if we receive a good response!